Southern Combination League told their season is over

Southern Combination League told their season is over

Southern Combination League teams have been officially told their season is over.

Clubs must now wait to see if their results so far will count towards a final table or the season is expunged.

This follows on from the news on Tuesday that many non-league divisions are pressing ahead with plans to terminate their season.

In a letter to clubs SCFL chairman Steve Nealgrove said: "As you will be aware, on Tuesday I took part in a WebEx FA meeting with the Chairmen of Step 5 & 6 leagues, also present were members of the FA Leagues Committee, representatives of Leagues at steps 3 & 4 and several other FA members.

"At the start of the meeting FA Leagues Committee Chairman Mark Frost made a statement to the meeting and announced that a decision had been taken and the current season 2019/20 will not resume.

"No further matches will now take place.

"It is hoped that by announcing this now it will give club’s an early indication and allow clubs to plan their annual maintenance to go ahead.

"However, it was also stated that the IOG (Institute of Groundsmanship) have instructed the groundsmen who are their members that they should not be working on grounds at this time given the government’s latest instructions.

"From the step 5 & 6 leagues also at Step 3 & 4 there was no clear mandate upon how to complete the season.

"There is roughly a 50-50 split between those wanting to expunge the season and those wanting to apply the points per game to the league table.

"The FA want to make a global and consistent ruling which applies across the NLS and have taken the feedback from today away to help make their decision.

"No clear timescale exists for that decision, but the FA are aware that clubs and leagues need a decision ASAP.

"There was also talk about the financial difficulties facing clubs in this current situation and instruction was for clubs to contact the government, either locally or centrally, to obtain the assistance already published in the media.

"However, we are asking the FA to provide full guidance upon how this should be achieved there was no indication from the FA at this time that there would be any financial assistance from the FA, that is not to say that this may change in the future.

"It was also announced that the ground grading deadline for clubs wishing to be promoted or retain their status would be moved back from 31st March to the 31st July.

"The FA will be communicating this decision in detail separately.

"As we receive further information from the FA, we will share this with you at the earliest opportunity.

"I also need to make it clear that the decision to halt the season needs FA Council approval which will take a little time to obtain.
"So, although the FA announced this as their intent, it still needs ratification and is not finalised yet.
"We will inform you all as soon as we have that confirmation."

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